Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile, "You've been in Chengdu for the past few days, so you don't know that Zhou Yan's restaurant has already upgraded. Besides noodles, he's also selling cross-legged beef and stir-fried and braised dishes."
"Zhou Yan's noodle business just started to pick up, why is he rushing to expand again? Didn't you say that before, when he sold stir-fried and braised dishes, he almost ruined the restaurant?" Meng Anhe frowned slightly.
"I actually think his expansion isn't blind. The noodle business is good in the mornings, but not many people eat there at noon and in the evening. So, after he added cross-legged beef, business improved. Now he sells noodles in the morning and serves Chinese food at noon and in the evening, so he can manage both."
Lin Zhiqiang analyzed, "The dishes he sells are also quite simple: braised pork ribs, beef stew with bamboo shoots, and minced beef with double peppers. These are the toppings and stew. The cross-legged beef sells well, and he only added one extra dish: crucian carp with perilla leaves."
Meng Anhe thought for a moment and nodded, "He's trying to steal those customers who eat stir-fried dishes from your factory canteen."
"It's funny, actually. There was a commotion at the factory canteen this noon. Zhao Dong led the way, and they almost trashed the canteen..." Lin Zhiqiang then recounted the gossip about the incident at the factory canteen to Meng Anhe.
Meng Anhe was overjoyed after hearing this and suddenly said, "So, you're planning to introduce Zhou Yan to Director Wang?"
"That's right. If Zhou Yan's cooking can satisfy the director, I'll definitely introduce him." Lin Zhiqiang nodded. "Back then, Zhou Yan got into a conflict with Wang Defa in the factory canteen. He was young and hot-headed and injured Wang Defa, which had a bad impact. Since he was only an apprentice, he was fired."
"Wang Defa is petty and not a good person. After the commotion in the factory canteen today, he's bound to get scolded by Liu Yusheng. The small stir-fry dishes in the factory canteen were his proudest achievement since he took office. With Zhou Yan stealing his customers, he's definitely not going to be happy."
"Zhou Yan's small restaurant seems prosperous, but it's a storefront rented from the textile factory. In this small town, Wang Defa has plenty of ways to cause trouble."
Meng Anhe couldn't help but laugh: "You're thinking a lot about him. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were his uncle."
"Isn't that what I should do? He's Yaoyao's lifesaver; we can never repay Zhou Yan's kindness." Lin Zhiqiang said with a smile. "Besides, may be I'll really become his uncle in the future."
"What do you mean by that?" Meng Anhe raised an eyebrow, a little wary. "Did something happen during the study tour the other day?"
"No, I just said it casually,." Lin Zhiqiang quickly shut his mouth.
"Confess quickly! Don't make me pinch you!" Meng Anhe's hand pinched the soft flesh on his waist.
"No, no, no, really nothing. I just think Zhou Yan is handsome and reliable in his words and actions..."
Their two sons were trotting along behind them. The older one was in third grade, and the younger one was in first grade. They were both well-mannered, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, inheriting the best features of both parents.
They were both excited to be able to go out to a restaurant today.
Lin Zhiqiang was busy with work, and Meng Anhe was even busier. She worked at an architectural design institute in Chengdu at least five days a week, and only after finishing a project could she return to Suji to visit her husband and children who stayed behind.
The two children were usually entrusted to the neighbor's aunt for pick-up and drop-off, and they also ate meals there. They just paid a monthly food allowance; it was a completely hands-off approach to parenting.
"Mom, is that cute little sister that cousin sister Yaoyao mentioned at the restaurant where we're going to eat?" Lin Jingxing asked.
"Are the pickled vegetables made by their family? We finished the ones you brought back last time, can we get some more?" His younger brother, Lin Bingwen, was more concerned about the pickled radishes they ate with their porridge that morning.
"Yes, the little girl's name is Zhou Momo, she's still young, so don't scare her when you see her later." Meng Anhe turned around and instructed the two children. "I'll ask the owner for some more pickled radishes later."
"Okay." the two little ones nodded in agreement.
...
It was rush hour, and bicycles poured out of the textile factory gate like water released from a dam, a dense stream of them.
The vendors at the entrance immediately perked up, quickly starting to hawk their goods.
They only had this half hour; once the people were gone, they would have to wait until tomorrow.
Zhou Liangliang, not to be outdone, shouted loudly in his hoarse voice: "Come, come, come! Grand opening special! Super discounted prices! Noodles for thirty cents a bowl, one ounce of meat in each bowl! Zhou Village style soup pot is also thirty cents a bowl! Thirty cents a bowl..."
His loud voice did attract some attention, but mostly looks of disdain.
"Here he goes again? One ounce of meat for thirty cents a bowl, it sounds terrifying!"
"I'm afraid it's more disease pork from somewhere again. One Wang Laowu leaves, and another Wang Laoliu comes along?"
"The soup pot is thirty cents a bowl, but you can smell the stench from a distance. It's all the gamy smell of offal, completely different from the cross-legged beef at Zhou Erwa Restaurant."
The workers riding by on their bicycles shook their heads repeatedly.
"Look, we can't even sell it for thirty cents. If we don't sell these things today, they'll be rotten tomorrow. I believed your nonsense, and now you're paying the price! Look how booming other people's business is!" Wu Guihua looked dejected, her eyes red as she watched more and more bicycles parked in front of Zhou Erwa Restaurant across the street.
Zhou Liangliang also became anxious, looking at the offal and noodles he had prepared. He gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, shouting again, "Noodles are on sale! Soup is on sale! Twenty cents a bowl! Selling at a loss! Selling at a loss! I'm losing my pants! Only twenty cents a bowl!"
"Twenty cents a bowl? Is Zhou Liangliang crazy?" Zhao Tieying looked bewildered. The soup might break even, but the noodles would definitely be a loss.
"A cornered dog will jump over the wall, but it's useless." Zhou Yan smiled and said, "Once bitten by a snake, twice shy. The cheaper it is, the more afraid the workers will be."
Sure enough, after Zhou Liangliang's shout, the workers pedaled their bicycles even harder, not even looking back.
The incident involving Wang Laowu and the diseased pork serves as a cautionary tale; some money shouldn't be saved when it comes to food.
A bowl of noodles for twenty cents, even with an extra ounce of meat, wasn't very appealing; instead, it was frightening.
"Don't... don't run away..." Zhou Liangliang slumped onto the stool, as if all his strength had been drained.
If this price was shouted out at the docks, a crowd would immediately gather.
The textile factory workers are so wealthy, why don't they even eat the twenty cents a bowl of noodles and soup?
But why does Zhou Yan's soup pot, at sixty cents a bowl, sell so well?
Zhou Liangliang racked his brain but still couldn't figure it out.
...
"Zhou Erwa Restaurant, it should be this one." Wang Hongliang stopped his bicycle in front of the restaurant, looked up at the sign, and said with a smile, "I pass by here everyday, but this is the first time I've come to eat here."
Li Meilin got off the back seat, first lifting her grandson down from the crossbar of the bicycle, glanced towards the shop, and smiled, "Why would Lin Zhiqiang choose a small restaurant like this? Didn't he say he was selling noodles? Are we eating noodles tonight?"
"Don't underestimate this little restaurant. The college students from Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts ate here for two consecutive meals two days before, and they all said the noodles were delicious." Wang Hongliang said with a smile.
"Director, Sister in law." Lin Zhiqiang hurried forward to greet them.
"Director Wang, Sister Meilin." Meng Anhe smiled and greeted them, then reached out and patted her grandson's head, "Haohao has grown taller again."
The two children politely greeted them.
"Zhiqiang, Xiao Meng, and the two children are here." Wang Hongliang nodded with a smile.
"Xiao Meng, that coat looks really nice. Did you buy it in Chengdu?" Li Meilin also smiled, looking at the two children, "Jingxing and Bingwen are growing so fast, they'll definitely be as tall as their father in the future."
Inside the shop, Zhao Tieying hurried to call Zhou Yan.
Both the factory director and deputy director had arrived; these were important leaders, and she felt a little intimidated.
"Let's go in then. I've had little Zhou reserve seats for us." Lin Zhiqiang said after exchanging greetings.
"Okay." Wang Hongliang nodded.
At this moment, Zhou Yan also came out to greet them, smiling slightly: "Director, please come in. We've reserved seats for you all."